site.btaBulgarian Agriculture Minister Vatev Discusses Introduction of Licensing Regimes with Ukrainian Counterpart

Minister of Agriculture and Food Kiril Vatev discussed the introduction of export licensing regimes for Ukraine with Ukrainian counterpart Mykola Solski at a meeting held within the framework of the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Luxembourg on Tuesday.

Solski expressed Ukraine's readiness to comply with all the conditions that Bulgaria will ask for regarding exports of grain and other goods from Ukraine. Talks are underway to clarify the conditions under which the export licenses will be approved, he added. Solski thanked Bulgaria for its support and good information exchange.

Vatev stressed he expects Ukraine to introduce the licensing regime as soon as possible as a measure to prevent distortions on agricultural markets in the five EU member states ‘on the front line’.

The Bulgarian Agriculture Minister also presented information on the situation at the Bulgarian market, following the war in Ukraine. Given the difficult market situation, Bulgaria raises the issue of lifting the state aid ceiling. Currently, a significant portion of livestock, areas with permanent and vegetable crops, as well as greenhouse agricultural production, are excluded from the aid, Vatev stressed.

He also pointed out that the emerging conflict in the Middle East between Israel and Palestine could lead to further pressure on European agricultural markets, given the potential global increase in oil and gas prices.